WS Chronicle

Hall of Famer Andre Dawson delivers the keynote address during the Hot Stove Banquet and Auction on Thursday, Feb. 4.

BY TEVIN STINSON 

THE CHRONICLE

If you look him up, you will see that Andre Dawson’s baseball resume takes up two or three pages. Dawson, better known as “The Hawk,” was the 1977 Rookie of the Year and his career just continued to skyrocket from there.

Dawson spent the majority of his 21-year career with the Montreal Expos and the Chicago Cubs. He was selected to the All-Star team eight times, won eight Golden Gloves and received the 1987 Most Valuable Award in the National League.

In 2010 Dawson became a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

While delivering the keynote address during the inaugural Hot Stove Banquet Thursday, Feb. 4, Dawson said that although he accomplished a lot on the field, the relationships he made with teammates and managers over the years is what he misses the most about the game of baseball.

“People ask me all the time if I miss playing the game. I tell them no.” He continued, “I did my time and passed the torch. What I do miss is the relationships you create over the years.”

Dawson went on to discuss three special relationships he made with his former manager Don Zimmer, and teammates Rick Sutcliffe and Greg Maddux. Amongst other things, Dawson also discussed growing up in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Hawk said his mother and grandmother, who were both very much involved in the church, were the force behind him that made him great.

“They were always there to guide me in the direction I needed to go,” he said. “I would not be the man I am today with their guidance.”

During the banquet held at the Founder’s Club inside BB&T Ballpark, those in attendance had the opportunity to bid on authentic sports memorabilia, as well as the opportunity to meet and take photos with a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

All proceeds made during from the banquet and the auction will go toward the Winston-Salem Sports Foundation and the Dash’s various charitable efforts such as the Diamond in the Rough Ballpark Renovation Program.

For the past two years the Dash has joined forces with Flow Chevrolet to renovate a local little league baseball or softball field in the area. Last year the entire Dash staff came together to renovate Winston-Salem National Little League (WSNLL). According to president of WSNLL William Daniel, since the renovations the players seem more excited to play the game and he has also seen an increase in the number of applicants wanting to play.

“They really transformed our field into a major league type playing field,” said Daniel. “We are truly grateful for everything the Dash has done to help our organization and the other little league organizations in the area.”

Dash President Geoff Lassiter said the main goal of the Winston-Salem Sports Foundation is to get more children involved in sports in the area, mainly around the game of baseball.

“Our pure number one mission of the foundation is to continue to grow  the sport in all levels in our community.” Lassiter continued, “We feel it’s really important to carry on the baseball tradition in our community.”